How White House Cottages Brings Families Together Across the Miles
There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when three generations of a family find themselves under the same sky, sharing meals, laughter, and a firepit glow well into the evening. For the Langhorn family, that magic has now happened twice at White House Cottages — and they’re already planning their third visit.
A Surprise 70th to Remember
This May bank holiday weekend, the Langhorns gathered at White House Cottages to celebrate Catherine’s 70th birthday. What Catherine didn’t know until it was all arranged? Her family had planned the whole thing as a surprise — a tribute to just how much their first stay, a festive pre-Christmas gathering, had meant to them all.
Three generations, four corners of the country. Nigel and Catherine travelling from Portsmouth. Their son Adam making the journey from Wiltshire, where Adam is stationed as an army officer. Daughter Clare coming from Haslemere, and son Robin from Warwickshire. Between them, young grandchildren, a couple of beloved dogs, and the kind of busy family life that makes finding a time — and a place — to come together all the more precious.
White House Cottages sits at that rare sweet spot: accessible enough to be practical for everyone, yet tucked away enough to feel like a genuine escape.
A Cottage for Every Chapter of the Family Story
One of the things that sets White House Cottages apart for multigenerational families is the way the courtyard layout keeps everyone connected while giving each household their own front door.
Robin and his wife and young family— complete with preschool children and the family dog, Indy — settled into the Long Barn, a dog-friendly cottage with space to breathe. Adam and Jamie-Lee found their home-from-home in the Welsh Cottage, with dog Sammy. Clare and Richard in Hop Pickers with their two young children. And Nigel and Catherine — the birthday guests of honour — had the run of the Hop Store, having previously stayed in the Kiln on their Christmas visit.
Everyone together. Everyone comfortable. Nobody treading on each other’s toes.
Bank Holiday Sunshine and Slow Days
The timing couldn’t have been kinder. The May bank holiday brought with it glorious, scorching heat — the sort of weather that turns a family gathering into something truly memorable.
Days were filled with visits to local family-friendly attractions, the kind of outings that young grandchildren will remember for years. Evenings gathered everyone around the courtyard:
- The Kamado Joe BBQs fired up for a long, lazy group barbecue
- Marshmallows toasted over the firepit as the sun went down
- Clear skies perfect for a little stargazing
For brunch, the family discovered Sorrel & Sage — a firm new favourite. And Nigel and Catherine stole away one evening for a celebratory dinner at Verzons House, marking the milestone in style.
In Catherine’s Own Words
“We loved our Christmas gathering so much, my family booked it as a surprise 70th. We’re already talking about booking up again to return in December, while the families are thinking of returning independently to spend a week here in summer.”
— Catherine Langhorn, celebrating her 70th birthday at White House Cottages
Paul and Angela went the extra mile to make the celebration perfect — including extending Catherine’s stay by an extra night so she could rest and recover after three wonderfully busy days with her grandchildren. That kind of flexibility and personal care is what turns a great stay into a lasting relationship.
Coming Soon: The Courtyard Retreat
Families like the Langhorns inspire everything we do at White House Cottages. Seeing three generations gathered in our courtyard, children running between the cottages, grandparents watching on — it’s exactly why we’re so excited about what’s coming next.
We’ve worked with local architects on plans to convert our historic triple-length garage, workshop, and the overgrown courtyard beyond — which includes the remains of an old cowshed — into something rather special. We’re calling it The Courtyard Retreat.
The vision draws on the deep history of the site. White House itself dates from the 17th century, and the surrounding buildings carry centuries of character as a working hop farm in apple country. Our plans will celebrate that heritage: exposed historic features, a strong sense of place, and the generous use of glazing to bring the courtyard to life in all weathers.
The new space will serve families and groups looking for a dedicated gathering place — somewhere to share a meal, mark a milestone, or simply be together without squeezing into a living room. It will also open up new possibilities for out-of-season and midweek corporate retreats, making the most of the setting and the peace of the Herefordshire countryside.
We’ve submitted planning, including the necessary ecological and bat surveys required for permission — a condition of working within the curtilage of our Grade 2 listed White House, and within the parish conservation area. We’re also applying for a Marches Grant to support the project.
Watch this space. The Courtyard Retreat is coming.
The Magic of Meeting in the Middle
The Langhorn family story captures something we hear time and again at White House Cottages: that the hardest part of a multigenerational family holiday is simply finding somewhere that works for everyone. Somewhere the grandparents can have peace and comfort, the young families have space and practicality, and the grandchildren have the freedom to run.
Somewhere that’s genuinely in the middle — geographically, and in every other sense.
Whether it’s a milestone birthday, a festive Christmas gathering, or simply the overdue luxury of being in the same place at the same time, White House Cottages is here for it.
We’d love to help you plan your own family gathering. Get in touch to find out about cottage availability and group bookings.
